Caring for Your Cat Or Dog Around Your Children (Part 1)

Many can think back to living with a cat or dog. Pets and children get along well together. With a few tricks, your cat or dog can be secure around your children and the children can avoid behavior that is bad for your pet.

Most types of dogs and pups have a fine temperament around children, and can manage a bit of horseplay without reacting aggressively. Unfortunately, this is not the situation for cats. Particularly with younger ones, picking up and playing with a cat or kitten often results in bites and scratches, and further problems. If you are expecting visits from young children, you should try to separate them from the cat whenever possible. And if you have yet to make a decision about a cat or dog for your family, you may need to seriously consider whether a cat is a good choice.

Young children, whether part of the family or on a visit, must learn how to play with their cat or dog. They must be told it’s not a toy, and care is requires like any other playmate. Pulling, hitting, slapping, tugging, or other antisocial behavior must not be tolerated, and you should have in place some form of discipline, to tell the child how serious this is.

If the little children are visiting, one way for both children and pet to play well is with an outdoor activity, like walking the dog when he needs to go out, playing catch, taking the cat or dog for a run or jog, or others. These can be useful, as they teach young ones the responsibility in caring for a dog or cat.

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